The systematic and faunistic investigation of Crabronidae and Sphecidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) families in upper Kelkit valley

In this study, species belonging to the Crabronidae and Sphecidae families (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Upper Kelkit Valley were investigated. Field studies were carried out between 2015 and 2018 at the stations within the boundaries of Suşehri, Akıncılar, Gölova, Zara, İmranlı, Şebinkarahisar, Çamoluk, Alucra, Şiran, Kelkit, Refahiye which constitute the Upper Kelkit Valley of Erzincan, Giresun, Gümüşhane and Sivas city provinces. Totally 3607 adult wasp samples belonging to Crabronidae and Sphecidae families were collected and prepared as standard museum materials. Almost all samples were identified and 248 taxa belonging to Crabronidae family and 32 taxa belonging to Sphecidae family were determined from the region. When compared with the literature, 116 species belonging to both families were recorded for the first time for the fauna of the provinces in the study region. Among these, 10 species were recorded for the first time for Turkish fauna so that the number of taxa is raised to 567 from 559 for Crabronidae and to 82 from 80 for Sphecidae. The first recorded species for the Turkish fauna belonging to Crabronidae family are: Miscophus after, Miscophus pulcher, Tachysphex ctenophorus, Nitela borealis, Diodontus insidiosus, Passaloecus borealis,Mimesa bruxellensis, Psenulus chevrieri and for Sphecidae family are: Ammophila gussakovskii and Podalonia nigrohirta. One of the samples belonging to the genus Lestica from Crabronidae family was interpreted as a new species. Identification keys for the subfamilies, genera, and species for both families were prepared. In this thesis, the details of the examined material, their distribution in the world and Turkey, their phenology, plant-collecting records (if exists) and some taxonomic notes were given for each taxon. In addition, the original photographs were included for the species identified in the study.